The dress rehearsal had gone very well, a sparkling performance putting Heybridge to the sword some 90 hours previously, but this was the real thing and Swifts had unsportingly re-written the script. Early skirmishes saw Andy Pape in action as he tipped a flyer over the bar and then plunged at his near post to smother a well struck shot whilst the home 'keeper's only scare was when he dropped a cross under pressure. But, although slightly against the run of play, it was Sutton who opened the scoring on 22 minutes when Nicky Bailey won the ball on the left and reached the dead-ball line before pulling a cross back into the path of Mark Watson who side-footed home. The visiting supporters relaxed and waited for the onslaught. However, Swifts had other ideas and it was Pape who was far the busier 'keeper as a shot whistled past his post and a close range effort thudded into his stomach. Then, as half time approached, Heybridge did get the ball in the net, only for their celebrations to be cut short by the assistant referee's waving offside flag. Sutton came out for the second half showing renewed determination and a through pass saw Matt Fowler bearing down on the 'keeper. Leaving his area he missed his tackle so took the only path open to him and collapsed in a heap clutching his head. Despite the minor contact the referee had no option but to blow the whistle and the chance had gone. And another opportunity came and went when a corner pulled back to Bailey was crossed into the box where Louis Gonsalves stretched his neck muscles but headed narrowly wide. Then just as the Heybridge heads were starting to drop the left winger forced his way past Darren Beale and crossed hard and low into the box to an in-rushing forward who had lost his marker. Pape had no chance as the ball was placed just inside the post. Sutton came straight back, Bailey drifting past two defenders before crossing to the far post where Fowler, possibly remembering the previous Tuesday, aimed to volley home. However, on this occasion contact was less than perfect and the shot scuffed wide. Then Matt Gray, on for the limping Fowler, just failed to jump high enough to reach a looping Danny Bolt centre. But Swifts weren't finished and started to return to type. Beale was elbowed in the face and Gray got scythed down from behind in a couple of incidents which could have seen the home side reduced to nine men. However, a tolerant referee demurred from taking the ultimate action and the game finished with tempers high and the prospect of a further battle to come.

Team: Pape, Beale, Hollands, Palmer, Brett, Bailey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler (Gray), Watson, Gonsalves. Subs: Honey, Timothy, Hanlan, Dunn.